Exercise to simulate horizontal ladder exercise

ABSTRACT

An overhead exerciser for simulation of traveling suspended beneath a fixed horizontal ladder. The user is suspended freely from two depending levers, the reciprocation of the pair of levers simulating travel, although the person does not progress horizontally.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus to provide exercise on a single station device equivalent totraveling suspended along underneath a horizontal ladder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A common gymnastic piece of apparatus comprises a ladder supportedhorizontally above the ground. The user launches himself underneath theladder and with one hand grasps the first, rung of the ladder. Suspendedfrom the first rung, the user swings himself toward the next rung. Afterhe grasps it, he releases from the first rung and then swings his bodyso his free arm reaches for the third rung.

Repeated sequentially the user travels the length of the ladder,underneath it and suspending himself by-his arms, alternately engaginghis arms to successive rungs. This is a common apparatus in gymnasiums,provided for exercise of upper body muscles. The movement of the bodyalong the ladder is caused by movements of the user's arms and torso. Itrequires substantial area of the gymnasium to be dedicated to this onetype of exerciser.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus enablingequivalent exercise, but requiring only the space and area respective toa single small group of rungs, without requiring the fixed rungs. Itthereby makes available the advantages of this exercise in installationswhen space and rental considerations would otherwise preclude it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A reactive exerciser is mounted to or suspended from a support standthat stations it well above a ▪ground▪ surface. The ground surface isone above which the user of the exerciser is supported by himself out ofcontact with the ground while using the device. Any floor of sufficientarea is suitable for this. For most installations, the exerciser itselfwill be supported on a tower-like stand which rests on a floor.

This exerciser utilizes a pair of hand grips each mounted to arespective pivoted lever, each lever is so disposed and arranged thatdirectly or through linkage it is capable of unidirectionally driving arotor in the same direction. They are so interconnected that each leverperiodically oscillates between a forward and a rearward position, theposition of each of them being reciprocal to the other, so that theexertions of the suspender (dangling) users drives the rotor.

With this apparatus mounted above the surface, the user can engage gripson the levers as with a conventional ladder, and thereafter will exerthimself in a manner very similar to traveling suspended under a ladderbut without himself moving forwardly or rearwardly. In effect, theapparatus substitutes for a stationary ladder, but simulates movementalong a ladder.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understoodfrom the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings,in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the apparatus in use; and

FIG. 2 is an upward view taken at line 2-2 in FIG. 1 showing some of themechanical features of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exerciser 10 is shown in FIG. 1 mounted to a tower-like stand (sometimescalled a base) 11 that rests on a ▪ground▪ surface 12. In theillustration, surface 12 may be the floor of a room.

Base 11 comprises upright legs fixed to a frame 13 on the floor. Rungs14 are fixed to legs 15,16 to enable a user to climb to an operatinglevel. As can be seen, this lever is high enough that when the userutilizes the exerciser, his feet will clear the ground. It is essentialof this invention that the user be a freely unsupported body suspended(dangling) from the exerciser out of contact with the ground surface.

Exerciser 10 is mounted at the top of base 11. A central hub 25 is thecenter of the exerted forces. A rotor 26, in this device a wheel, isfixed to and rotates with the hub around axis 27. A left hand lever 30and a right hand lever 31 have respective hand grips 32,33 at their freeends. The grips are laterally spaced apart to accommodate the user's owndimensions.

Both levers 30 and 31 are freely rotatable mounted to the hub, andinclude extensions 34,35 on the opposite sides of the axis for drivingpurposes to be described.

The rotor is coupled to the levers by a unidirectional transmission nowto be described. A phase gear 36 is conveniently a sprocket-type. It isrotatably mounted to the base. Respective rigid links 37,38 are fixed togear 36 on opposite sides of it and an externally aligned with eachother, extending in opposite directions from the phase gear. Gear 36 andlinks 37,38 are fixed to a common shaft 39.

Importantly, these arms are therefore 180 degrees out of phase with eachother. Arms 40,41 respectively connect extensions 34,35, to the ends oflinks 37 and 38. Because of this, which-ever one of the levers 30 or 31moves forwardly, the other will move backwardly.

A chain 45 is drivingly connected to a reduction gear 46, which is alsoa sprocket. It drives chain 47 that is drivingly connected to the hub.Thus, relative movement of the major levers causes rotation of therotor. This is a unidirectional drive

To provide resistance when desired, vanes 50 may be incorporated in therotor, which may resemble a wheel, as shown. This restraint would bethat of reaction with atmosphere. Alternatively, drag means such as aprony brake, disc brake, or compression brake may be provided as desired(not shown), which provide adjustable resistance. Once actuated, itsinertia assists the alternating action of the handles.

In use as shown the user 60 suspends himself from the exerciser bygrasping the grips, and then exerts his torso to simulate travelingunder a ladder by drawing the forward one of it legs rearwardly, andthen the other. Ordinarily he will grasp only one of them tightly topull himself ▪forward▪ and not impede the ▪returning▪ grip. In the next,he shifts his hanging weight and pulls back strongly on the other.Alternatively, he may ▪drive▪ both levers at the same time.

This closely simulates the bodily functions exerted in travelingsuspended under a fixed ladder, but in a device which utilizes much lessarea. This is a considerable advantage in training rooms and the likewhose space is scarce and expensive.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown in thedrawings and described in the description, which is given by way ofexample and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope ofthe appended claims.

1. In combination: a stand providing a support above a surface; and; areactive exerciser to provide to a user a physical exercise simulativeof travel by a suspended user progressively proceeding along theunderside of a horizontal ladder, the ladder having a sequence ofspaced-apart rungs, said exerciser being mounted to said stand at anelevation above that which the user when suspending himself from theladder rungs would not contact the surface, said exerciser comprising: arotor having an axis of rotation; a pair of levers, each with arespective hand grip, said levers being mounted to be freely rotatablerelatively to the hub and depending downwardly, and a unidirectionaldrive interconnected between said rotors and said levers wherebyreciprocation of said levers results in driven rotation of the rotor;whereby a user suspending himself from said hand grips exerts asequential effort to move one of said levers toward himself whileenabling his other arm to facilitate or ignore the reverse movement ofthe other lever causes rotation of the rotor, thereafter repeating thissequence with his opposite arm, the continuation of this sequencesimulating the said traveling under a ladder.
 2. In Combination: a standproviding a support above a surface; and; a reactive exerciser toprovide to a user a physical exercise simulative of travel by asuspended user progressively proceeding along the underside of ahorizontal ladder, the ladder having a sequence of spaced-apart rungs,said exerciser being mounted to said stand at an elevation above thatwhich the user when suspending himself from the ladder rungs would notcontact the surface, said exerciser comprising: a rotor having an axisof rotation; a hub fixed to said rotor for driving rotation therewith; apair of levers, each with a respective hand grip, said levers beingmounted to be freely rotatable relatively to the hub and dependingdownwardly, each said lever having an extension on the opposite side ofsaid axis; a phase sprocket, a pair of oppositely directed phase linksrotatably coupled to said phase sprocket; a pair of drive linksconnected to respective said extensions and to a respective said phaselink; a drive sprocket mounted to said base and to said hub; a firstchain drive drivingly interconnecting said phase sprocket and drivesocket, and a second chain drive drivingly interconnecting said drivesocket and said hub; whereby a user when suspending himself from saidhand grips exerts a sequential effort to move one of said levers towardhimself while enabling his other arm to facilitate or ignore the reversemovement of the other lever causes rotation of the rotor, thereafterrepeating this sequence with his opposite arm, the continuation of thissequence simulating the said traveling under the ladder.
 3. Acombination according to claim 2 in which said rotor includes vanesreactive with air in which it is rotated.
 4. A combination according toclaim 2 in which an adjustable brake provides resistance to rotation ofsaid rotor.